In Need of Color March 30, 2011

Day after day of down parkas, long johns and when the only fashionable thing you’re wearing is your lipstick, it means you might just have to ask.

When a little sun pokes through the chilly gloom, you might just go in search of it because

You are

The City is trying to help in its own way – as the tulips start reaching for the stars, they’ve put bunches of brightly painted branches in the ground to egg them on. But I must walk on. Paint is not the answer (even though it’s the thought that counts, so thanx).

I pass a new Eileen Fisher store on State St and I have to say, “thanks, E! Those are some really Colorful Scarves!” But I need more. I am starved by the grey; hungry for the bloom.

Even shoes, my natural go-to pick-me-up are not as exciting, not as thrilling, although these little numbers made of shoe strings really did help. For a few seconds.

What I need is a punch to the solar plexis!

That’s better! But it’s still indoors and at the end of the day, it’s still feeling a lot like winter.

The kind folks at Macy’s feel our pain this time of year, every year and they throw a floral bash on the first floor of the store. Of course, someone somewhere had to come up with a “theme” and this year, it was Towers of Flowers. I thank you. I think.

No. Really. I thank you! This is about a two foot high triangle of blooms on the side of a tall teepee, living for a few days in the aisle between Yves St. Laurent & Smashbox in the makeup department.

But it isn’t until I drift away from the paint pots and get closer to the purses, that I am lifted up and by god, I almost, just almost break into tears…

Monday Morning Mirth March 28, 2011

Monday Morning Mirth

In case you missed being there – ;p – Chanel touched all bases with Spring Fashion Trends at their runway show. To the beat of an 80-piece orchestra, models walked the Grand Palais in Paris and no trend was left unturned.

TGIF Friday March 24, 2011

All it takes is a little ole software upgrade to wake up the stone cold geek in me! There’s been lots of photoshopping and videoing around Chez Chic this week – I love learning new things.

This little set of pictures is from a photoshoot in my neighborhood in Chicago: Wicker Park!

We went out to one of the more ubiquitous 6-way intersections – Milwaukee Ave/North Ave/Damen – and just started walking around.

Wicker Park is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Chicago – lots of it is built around 1885 through the turn of the Century. Many of the owners of breweries had mansions in a little triangle area around Leavitt & Milwaukee Ave, bordered by the Blue Line Elevated Train, called Beer Baron Row. In the good old days when you could still smoke a cigar anywhere, an Executive could ride the train right to their office – sort of a limo on rails…

“Pierce and Hoyne streets feature some of the city’s largest and best examples of Victorian-era architecture… Early inhabitants were largely German and Scandinavian in origin, although a later influx of Polish immigrants led to the area being called the “Polish Gold Coast.””

Our photoshoot went right to the heart of the matter in the commercial district – where you see mainly 3-4 story high old fashioned store front spaces with apartments above. There’s lots of restaurants, clothing boutiques, and for you Fluevog fans a huge store.

What was most fun for me was the ever-passing parade of neighbors going by. People on their way to school or work, strollers and kids, all became just our pose du jour!